5 Lit’l Smokies Recipes to Bring Holiday Parties to Life

It's that time of year again. The holiday hustle and bustle is stressful, but it's worth every minute when you get to spend time with family and friends.

Of course, this means parties to attend and entertaining events to host. When you need some great food to impress your guests, there are two ways to go. You could spend a fortune on fancy ingredients, spend all day cooking, and end up with a meal that might impress your family. Or, you could throw a box of crackers and cheese blocks on a plate and call them appetizers—easy, but not very inspiring. Neither one sounds good? How about a third option: food that looks great, tastes amazing and is really easy to prepare. You can't go wrong when you start with Hillshire Farm Lit'l Smokies.

Oh yes, Lit'l Smokies. You remember them: the epitome of holiday party fare. They are much more than just the tasty little sausages you used to know. With endless way to make Lit'l Smokies, you're sure to find one that fits your menu or theme. Of course, if you have a large group to feed, pick a few different ways to serve them. Here are five simple ideas that will give you impressive results.

Bacon Wrapped Brown Sugar Lit'l Smokies

Wrap each sausage in a third of a slice of thick-cut bacon, and secure it with a toothpick. Sprinkle with one cup of brown sugar, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a 400-degree oven until heated through. Let the bacon brown for a crispy finish. Serve with a variety of dipping sauces, and watch them fly off the plate.

BBQ Lit'l Smokies

This recipe is fantastic for potlucks and office parties, too. In a slow cooker, add one bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce to one package of any variety of Lit'l Smokies. Heat on high for at least 2 hours before serving.

Reindogs

These are so fun for guests of all ages, but kids especially will get a kick out of them. Heat a package of Lit'l Smokies and then dress them up for the party. A small pretzel twist broken in half makes an adorable pair of antlers. A dot of ketchup for his nose and either mustard or coarse sea salt for eyes and they are ready to party.

Bourbon Dogs

For the more adult crowd, try this delicious option: Add 3/4 cup bourbon, 2 cups of ketchup, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of grated onion to one package of Lit'l Smokies. Place in a slow cooker, and heat for at least 2 hours.

Pigs in a Blanket

For a fun baked treat, these couldn't be easier. All you need is two tubes of refrigerator crescent rolls and one package of Lit'l Smokies. Unroll your dough and cut each individual triangle into three pieces. Wrap each one around a tasty sausage starting with the large end of the triangle and roll up to the point. Bake them point side down at 400 degrees for 9-10 minutes until golden brown. These work great with a variety of dips, or keep it simple with just some ketchup or mustard.

As you can see, Lit'l Smokies are more than just cocktail weenies. Whether you go traditional with barbecue sauce or wrapped bacon, or get a bit more adventurous with some pretzels and sea salt, these recipes are sure to please even the most discriminating tastes. The best part? Only you will know how easy they were to make. Well, that's not quite true—other hostesses will know, but you can be sure, your secret is safe.